Boiler-tube cleaner.



Patented Mar. ll, I902.

F. w. PATz. BOILER TUBE CLEANER.

(Application filed Oct. 5, 1901.)

(No Model.)

Tn: NORRIS PETERS co, PHOTO-LITHJ, wnsumcmu. o. L

UNITED STATES PATENT met.

FRIEDRICH WILHELM PATZ, or HAMBURG, GERMANY.

BOILER-TUBE CLEANER.

QPEGIFIGATION formingpart of Letters Patent No, 69 5,077, dated March 11, 1 2- Application filed October 5, 1901- Serial No. 77,733. (No model.)

To (ti/Z whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, FRIEDRICH WILHELM PATZ, a subject of the German Emperor, and a resident of Hamburg, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boiler-Tube Cleaners, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a tool or implement for cleaning boiler-tubes or other tubes requiring similar treatment which is of simple construction and efficient in use and which can be operated without usingheavy or cumbersome driving apparatus.

"With these objects in view my invention consists of certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, all as hereinafter described, and pointed out in the annexed claims, reference being taken to the accompanying sheet of drawings, in Which- Figure l is a central sectional View of a portion of a boiler-tube,showing my improved cleaner therein in central longitudinal section. Fig.2 is a transverse section on the line I II, Fig. 1, showing the right end elevation of the cleaner; and Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic longitudinal elevation of the cleaner-body, illustrating the arrangement thereon of the rotary cutters, of the rolling cutters for breaking up or splitting off the scale or incrustation between the helical grooves cut into the latter by the said rotary cutters, and of the finishing-cutters or rolling scrapers.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

My improved cleaner comprises a conical (preferably prismatic) body a, which is slidably but not rotatably mounted on a shaft 1) of suitable cross-sectional area. The shaft b,extending through the tube t to be cleaned, is journaled in suitable bearings c in front and at the rear of the said tube and is provided at one end with suitable meansfor example, a square head b--for attaching a crank-handle or the like, by means of which rotary motion may be imparted to the said shaft.

The body a is provided with three longitudinal grooves 0.,within which are fastened in any suitable manner-for example, by means of screws a --square bolts or bars d, which serve as the carriers for the three sets of rolling cutters e, f, and g, respectively.

The rolling cutters e, forming the cutting device proper, are journaled in recesses e of the bars (1 and set around the conical. body "so as to be in a helical line, as this is obvious from the diagram Fig.3. The rolling outters f are journaled in recesses f of the bars d; but these cutters, forming the break-up cutters, are provided only between the rear threads of the first set of cutters, so that the rear portion of the body Ct is double-threaded, While the front portion is only singlethreaded, so to speak. If desired, athird set of cutters 9 may be arranged in a circle around the body a near its rear end or base. These cutters ,which form the finishing cutters or scrapers, are journaled in recesses g of the bars cl and arranged alternately at different angles to the longitudinal axis of the body a, as shown by Fig. 3.

My improved cleaner is operated and operates in the following manner: The cleaner is inserted into the end of the tube to be cleaned and the shaft 1) journaled with relation to the said tube in the manner shown by Fig. 1. When the shaft 1) is rotated, the cutters e of the likewise-rotated body a cut a thread or helical groove into the lining of scale or incrustation adhering to the inner wall of the boiler-tube. By this combined rotation and cutting action the cleaner is caused to slide along on the shaft Z7 and to cut its way through the scale lining of the tube, each subsequent rolling cutter 6 cutting proportionately deeper than the preceding one on account of the tapering arrangement of these cutters e or the cleaner-body a, respectively. During the travel of the cleaner through the boiler-tube the rolling cutters f out a second thread or groove into the lining of scale, and as this second groove is cut in the middle or between the threads of the first helical groove cut by the cutters e the action of the said outters f is to break up or split ofi the scale adhering to the tube-wall between the threads of the first helical groove. The cutters f act, therefore, as break-up or splitting-off devices and form an essential feature of my invention, as it is 'this set of rolling cutters f WhlCll' splits off and removes the scale. By the rolling cutters e alone-that is to say, without the aid of the rolling cutters fthe scale or incrustation cannot be removed. The rear or finishing cutters g, set at different angles to the longitudinal axis of the cleaner, act in the first line as scrapers, and thereby remove as the cleaner advances all portions of scale which may be left by the preceding cutters. These finishing-cutters 9 form no essential or necessary part of my invention and may be dispensed with, if desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a boiler-tube'cleaner, a suitable body having a central longitudinal perforation, means for securing therein sets of cutters, the cutters of a set arranged on a taper and the cutters of the several sets set to cut a spiral, and a rod of suitable cross-section adapted to be passed through the boiler-tube and perforation at the center of the body but not rotate in the perforation, said body freely slidable on the rod, whereby on rotating the rod the cutters will out a spiral and simultaneously cause the body to travel along the rod through the tube, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a boiler-tube cleaner, a prismatic body having a central bore and seats at the angles, in combination with bars adapted to fit said seats, sets of rotary cutters in the bars arranged on a taper at an angle to the axis of the body and in a spiral from end of said body, a rod through the bore on which said body is free to slide only, whereby said outters will cut a spiral and simultaneously cause the body to travel along said rod when it is turned, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a boiler-tube cleaner, a prismatic body having a rectangular central bore and seats at the angles, in combination with bars adapted to be secured in said seats, rotary cutters journaled in the bars and set in a tapering helical line from end to end of said body, breaking-up cutters also journaled in said bars and set on a helical line intermediate the convolutions of the first and for a portion of the length of said body, journaled near the rear ends of said bars and a rod slidable in the bore adapted to be rotated, whereby the cutters will cut a helical groove and simultaneously move the body along said rod through the boiler-tube, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a boiler-tube cleaner, a tapering prismatic body provided with a central bore, rotary cutters at the angles of said body and arranged on a helical line thereon, a drivingrod slidable but not rotatable in the bore of said body and means for rotating the rod, whereby the cutters and body are rotated and simultaneously, axially moved along said rod, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a boiler-tube cleaner, a body having a longitudinal bore, not circular in cross-section, means on said bod y forcuttin g and scrap ing the incrustation from a boiler-tube, and simultaneously give said body a longitudinal direction, and a rod through the bore to rotate the body and cutting and scraping means, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

FRIEDRICH WVILHELM PATZ. Witnesses:

MAX KAEMPFF, E. H. L. MUMMENHOFF.

rotary scrapers 

